Is It Spring Yet?

The short answer is obviously not.

These pictures were taken February 3rd. The top ones are my kids making the world's deepest snow angels. Next is the kids in front of a snow wall that isn't completely man-made. Lastly, the view from my front steps. Yes, that is my poor little minivan on the left. The big, white mound on the right is our pickup. Granted, the truck is tall to begin with, but an additional foot and a half of snow makes it considerably taller. (In another photo we have, my 6'2" husband is standing at the front of the truck and the snow on the hood comes about to the top of his head. Makes it difficult for my 5'6" self to get the snow off the truck.)

Usually, I have no problem with snow, especially if I can stay inside and read or write or, as I did on this day, watch football (woo hoo! Giants!) I'll admit I don't like shoveling, but as long as the snow stops falling periodically so I can keep up with accumulation, I'm okay.

No, what I HATE about snow is when it melts. Like it's been doing here for the last two days. Tons (ok, maybe not TONS, but a LOT) of snow that has been packed into ice on my driveway is now melting. But not melting quickly in an unseasonal blaze of sunshine and running down the culverts. Or slowly enough to dribble away quietly. Oh, no. It's about 34 degrees so there is a constant layer of melt over the ice. Yeah, big fun trying to walk up or down our hill.

For two days it's been a mess of blowing snow and sloggy slush. There is 6" of water on my driveway threatening to slosh under everything we have stored outside. I have neither the stamina or strength to move scoop shovelfuls of water and ice terribly far. Plus, I wear glasses, so two minutes into the shoveling leaves me blind. The wind blows my hood off and allows the rain/snow on my unprotected head. My gloves get saturated as if I'd showered with them. I look, feel and smell (don't ask) like a drowned rat.

The dogs, since they have no other option but to go out to pee, do their business and hurry back to the porch when they'd usually mosey about and take their sweet time returning. Even in the midst of a regular snow storm, they are in no hurry. But in this mess? You've never seen two big, lumbering canines move so fast in your life.

I'm sorry I don't have a picture, but it's just too damn wet and blowy out there, so you'll have to use your imaginations. Got it? Okay, now make it worse. There ya go. Welcome to my world.

On the bright side, since I get wet and cranky quickly while trying to save my house from floating down to the highway, I have been coming back inside and ripping through my current wip. Hmmmm....maybe this crappy weather isn't so crappy after all.